Incumbents Cookie Pope and Chad Stewart both won close primary races to keep their seats on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners.

Pope, a Smithfield legal assistant and Cleveland community resident, took 52.51 percent of the vote, beating challenger Patrick Harris, the Smithfield fire chief, who finished with 47.49 percent. This was Harris’ first bid for elected office.

Stewart, a Four Oaks business owner, defeated insurance agent Keith Brinson, taking 57.48 percent of the vote. Brinson, in his first bid for public office, finished with 42.52 percent. Stewart was appointed to the county board after the death of his father, longtime Commissioner Wade Stewart.

Neither Pope nor Stewart faces Democratic opposition in the fall. District 7 Commissioner Allen Mims, a Republican, is also unopposed.